Nova Patents
US7165824B2

Dead nozzle compensation

Summary by NHIP

Dead nozzle compensation

The method compensates for inoperative nozzles in a bi-lithic printhead by mapping dot data to a combination of operative nozzles based on a color model. This process minimizes perceived image error by selecting nozzles that print dots close to or immediately adjacent to the failed nozzle's intended position.

Claim Score by NHIP

Read claim 1, the broadest

Abstract

A printer controller for supplying dot data to a printhead in a predetermined order, the printhead comprising at least first and second printhead modules, each of which comprises a plurality of printing nozzles and being disposed adjacent each other such that a printing width of the printhead is wider than a printing width of either of the printhead modules, the printer controller being configured to order and time supply of the dot data to the printhead modules in accordance with their respective widths, such that a difference in relative widths of the printhead modules is at least partially compensated for.

US7165824B2, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 358

Term

Term ended

Expired 26 March 2025, 1.5 years ago.

  1. Priority
  2. Filed
  3. Granted
  4. Expired
  5. Today

13 claims: 2 independent, 11 dependent

  1. 1
    Broadest claimClaim Score 46, average(NHIP)A method of compensating for an inoperative nozzle in a bi-lithic printhead, the bi-lithic printhead including a plurality of sets of nozzles for printing a corresponding plurality of channels of dot data, the method comprising the steps of:(a) rendering compressed pages to form a bi-level layer for a given print line intended for the bi-lithic printhead;(b) expanding the compressed bi-level layer;(c) compositing the bi-level layer to produce bi-level dots;(d) determining which combination of one or more available operative nozzles near the inoperative nozzle will minimize perceived error in an image that the dot data forms part of, the determination being performed on the basis of a color model;(e) mapping the dot data intended for the inoperative nozzle to that combination of one or more operative nozzles from the same set;and, (f) passing resultant bi-level channel dot data to the bi-lithic printhead.
  2. 4
    The method according to 1 , including the substeps of:(i) determining one or more operative nozzles capable of printing a dot on print media close to a position at which the inoperative nozzle would have printed a dot had it been operative;and (ii) mapping the dot data from the inoperative nozzle to an operative nozzle determined in substep (i).